For what great nation is there that has G-d so near to it, as HASHEM our G-d is at all times that we call upon Him? (Devarim 4:8)

Now I know that HASHEM has delivered His anointed. He will answer him from His Holy Heavens, with the mighty deliverance of His right hand. Some rely on chariots and some upon horses, but as for us, the name of HASHEM our G-d we call. (Tehillim 20:7-8)

That Talmud Brochos expresses curiosity about the above verse. When is the time that when HASHEM is near to us? It offers the answer that is at the time when the congregation gathers and prays together. There’s something about that group activity that excites Divine involvement. Sometimes though, what the community cries out for with all sincerity seems thwarted. What happens to those prayers? Was it an exercise in futility, G-d forbid! No! We know that no prayer goes unanswered. There have been a lot of gathering together and an intense focus on prayer these past few weeks. Not everyone is in the seat to see results. Sometimes, though, someone in a unique position is offered a clear window into how the power of the many, praying as one, manifests in the real world, and in ways that might otherwise go unnoticed. This all may be pure conjecture but it is certainly compelling and encouraging news for believing hearts. It is more than worthy of telling and retelling.

Here is a true and amazing story told by Ohad Shaked: I received a phone call on Sunday from “A,” one of the Iron Dome commanders who was a student of mine about 6 years ago. I was glad he called. “Where can a person learn Torah in Ramat Gan?” He asked me leaving me baffled being that he was far from Torah and Mitzvot. “I’m going to be released in a couple of months, and I want to learn in a Yeshiva – I saw the Almighty with my own eyes!” He said, “Nothing more and nothing less.”

“What happened?” I asked him. “A Missile was fired from Gaza. The Iron Dome can detect where the missile is going to fall within a 200 meter radius. This particular Missile was heading to the Azrieli Towers (the equivalent of the Pentagon in the USA), or to the busy railroad tracks. Either way, hundreds could have paid with their lives!

We sent the first “dome” and it missed. Then the second as well as the third dome missed, this is a very rare occurrence. To date, only two other such cases occurred. I was in shock! We had four seconds until there is no way back and the missile would hit. We had already informed and dispatched emergency services, the police and the fire department, to the location.” Then the commander spoke excitedly as I kept on listening. “Suddenly, without any preliminary design from the Iron Dome system (which calculates the possible wind currents, etc.) a strong eastern wind blew – a wind that we have no idea where it came from and cast the missile right into the sea. We were all in shock!!! I stood up and started screaming ‘There is a G-d’! ‘There is a G-d!’ ‘There is a G-d’!!! I saw this miracle with my own eyes. No one told me about it. It was not reported to me. I saw the Hand of HASHEM fling the missile into the sea!

Of course this was not reported for security reasons, but it’s enough to witness the miracles with our own eyes to know there is HASHEM (G-d). I ran to one of the religious soldiers and asked him to help me put on Tefillin. I took it upon myself to keep Shabbat, and that was the very best Shabbat I have ever had.” This is what he told me. I was so excited that it even brought a tear to my eye. “Ashrecha” (praiseworthy are you) I said to him, “that you merited to witness this incident and to understand that it’s from HASHEM (G-d)!”

Just in case we thought it was the iron dome alone that was protecting our people, now we find out that we have a supernal partner. “U’ Mi Doma Lach!?” Who is like You!? Who can be compared to You!? That may be the hidden meaning of the iron dome. How ironic! DvarTorah, Copyright © 2007 by Rabbi Label Lam and Torah.org.